Temperature regulator



8, 1934. F. c. GHADBORN 1,957,629

TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Filed June 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BYWand )4 7110-9 ATTOR EYS y 1934. F. c. CHADBORN ,629

TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Filed June 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

Willi iii uiglhw I HMHI' III IWHHIM INVENTOR 8 If GU/za/Jomz ATTORNEYS y8, 1934. F. c. CHADBORN 1,957,629

TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Filed June 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WW,IL W ATTO NEYS Patented May 8, 1934 were UNETED STATES PATENT @FFifihClaims.

This invention relates to a temperature regulator.

Among the objects of this invention are improved means for controllingthe temperature of rooms or the like, which is of simple construction,may be readily adjusted, and is not only extremely sensitive to smallchanges in temperature but also very powerful in its operation.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a temperatureregulator, including means for completely shutting off the heat supplyupon rise of temperature beyond an arbitrary point for which the deviceis set.

Another object or" the invention is the provision of means for shuttingoff the heat supply to a heating cabinet at the same time that theintake air to the radiator unit in the cabinet is out 01f.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings which show one use towhich the invention may be put, and in which Fig. 1 shows the inventionapplied to a heating cabinet shown in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view of the left end of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the right end of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the interior parts of the cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the temperature regulator;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the temperature regulator;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially on the line 99of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a cross section of the triple valve in position to establishcommunication between a source of pressure and the larger cylinder ofthe temperature regulator;

Fig. 11 shows the triple valve in position to exhaust larger cylinder;

Fig. 12 shows the temperature regulator holding the triple valve in theposition shown in Fig. 10 to admit air under pressure to the largercylinder; and

Fig. 13 shows the temperature regulator in the position in which itholds the triple valve between ports to prevent admission of air to, orexhaust from, the larger cylinder.

The invention will be described with reference to one specific use whichI have disclosed in Figs.

1, 2, 3 and 4, in which combination the regulator I have shown iscontrolled by changes of pressure in a fluid produced by temperaturechanges, though it is to be understood that these changes in pressuremight be such as various changes of steam pressure, gas, etc.

Fig. 1 shows a cabinet A of usual and wellknown construction, and inwhich is housed a heating unit B, Fig. l, which may comprise radiationmeans of any suitable form into which steam is admitted through a valveC, Figs. 1 and 2. In the bottom of the cabinet is a blower fan D whichmay be driven by any suitable means and which may draw air from theexterior of the room through an intake E or from the room in which theradiator cabinet is located through a grid F, depending upon theposition of the member G, as is well known.

The air from the fan D is delivered upwardly, usually a portion of theair being forced through the radiator B and another portion of the airbeing forced up past the radiator B, the relative volumes of air passingthrough and outside of the radiator B, being controlled by a swingingvane H which is adapted to occupy diiferent positions under control ofmy temperature regulator. When the vane H is in the position indicatedby dotted lines none of the air delivered by the fan D passes throughthe radiator B so that all of the air issuing out of the radiator grid Iwill be either air at room temperature or air at outside temperature.

As shown in Fig. 1, the steam valve C may be mounted on the left handend of the cabinet and the temperature regulator control K may bemounted on the right hand end of the cabinet. A tank J or any suitablewell-known equivalent means, such as an electric motor and pump, may beused for supplying compressed air, or any otherfluid, to the cylindersof the temperature regulator through a pipe L and a pipe M and to thesmaller cylinder of the air motor 0 for tending to hold the steam valveC normally open. Under certain conditions, as when it is necessary toshut off the heat supply entirely, air or fluid may pass from the pipe Lthrough the pipe N to the larger cylinder of the air motor 0 operatingthe steam valve C. As shown in Fig. 2, the air motor 0 consists of alarge cylinder and a small cylinder in which operate large and smallpistons 10 and 11 mounted on a common piston rod 12 connected by anysuitable link connection 13, as shown, with the stem l i of the movablevalve element of the valve C, as is obvious. The pressure is constantlyacting through the pipe M upon the smaller piston 11 to urge the valveinto open position. As will be shown later, when no further heat supplyis necessary, air pressure through the pipe N operating on the largerpiston will move the valve stem 14 downwardly and close the valve C.

The temperature regulator will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to13. The regulator comprises a large cylinder 16, a small cylinder 17,suitably connected together as in by an open supporting frame work 18 onwhich is formed or secured a bracket 19 provided with a pair of eyesthrough which pass bolts 20 securing the temperature regulator to thewall 21, Fig. 5. The lower end of the larger cylinder 16 is closed bymeans of a cap 22 which houses a seat 23 of a triple valve 24 which isconstructed to admit air in one position under pressure from the pipe Lin the space behind the larger piston 25 in the larger cylinder 16, andto exhaust air from said space in another position through the exhaustport 26, and in still another position to prevent admission to orexhaust of air from the space behind the piston 25. The specificconstruction of the valve is not claimed in this application but formsthe subject matter of another of my applications, Serial No. 317,660,filed November 6, 1928, in view of which a detailed description will beomitted from this application.

The upper end of the smaller cylinder 17 is preferably closed by a cap27 which is provided with a port 28 communicating with a space behindthe piston 29, said port being in communication with the pipe L by meansof a tube 30 which is threaded into an extension 31 on the cap 2'7, andwhich is clamped over a port 32 in the cap 22 by means of a clamp 33, soas to open into the port 32, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 8. Thetube 30 is connected to the pipe L in any suitable manner. By means ofthis connection the space behind the piston 29 is always incommunication with the source of pressure J. The extension 31 on the cap27 may bear against the wall 21 to steady the device, as shown in Fig.5.

The pistons 29 and 25 are preferably carried on a piston rod 35 adaptedto drive an operating slide 36 by means of a screw bolt 37. Theoperating slide is slidably mounted in the bracket 19 and in theextension 31, and at its upper end pivotally carries a connecting rod 38pivotally connected to an arm 39, Fig. 3, on the outside of the cabineton a rock shaft 40 which carries an arm 41 connected by a link 42 to thevane I-I. When pistons are in lowermost position, vane or damper H willbe pressed against the inside front wall of cabinet, and all of the airbrought into the cabinet by the fan, will be forced to go through theradiator. When the pistons are in the uppermost position, the vane Hwill have been moved into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 inwhich none of the air delivered by the fan D passes through the radiatorunit so that the fan will merely act as a ventilating system when theair is drawn through the intake E, or merely as a circulating systemwhen the air is drawn through the grid F.

In the uppermost position of the pistons, the larger piston 25 risesabove the open end of the pipe N so that air passes from the largercylinder 16 to the pipe N. Then if the triple valve 24 is still inposition to admit air into the larger cylinder the air pressure from thetank or pump J will be communicated to the larger piston 10 in the airmotor 0 operating the valve C, thus causing the valve C to close and toshut off steam to the radiator B. As will be shown later, this conditionwill be maintained until there is a fall in temperature in the room.

The end of the triple valve 24 carries an operating member 43 by whichit is operated, comprising two arms, as shown, and a notch 44 locatedbetween the arms into which extends a valve operating arm 45 having awide possible free swing, the construction being such that when theoperating arm 45 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 the valve is closedagainst admission to or exhaust of air from the larger cylinder 16. Whenthe operating arm 45 moves to the right, Fig. 6, into the position shownin Fig. 12, it moves the valve into the position shown in Fig. 10 inwhich communication is established between the pipe L and the space inthe cylinder 16 behind the piston 25, causing the pistons 25 and 29 torise. When the operating rod 45 is moved to the left of its centralneutral position, it moves the valve into the position shown in Fig. 11in which air in the larger cylinder 16 may exhaust through the port 26,the movement of the pistons in a downward direction being effected bythe constant pressure through the pipe 30 on the smaller piston 29. Themovement of the pistons in an upward direction when air is admittedbehind the larger piston 25 is, of course, due to the fact that thepistons are of unequal area.

The position of the rod 45 is controlled by means of a thermostaticmember shown as a bellows device 46, the pressure in which is controlledby a fluid in a temperature coil or bulb 47, Fig. 1, which is preferablymade to contain a fairly large volume of fluid and which is coiled, asshown, so as to be sensitive to small temperature changes. I prefer touse thin wall tubing for the temperature coil or bulb 47 and to connectthis bulb to the bellows by a relatively thick walled tubing 48 of verysmall bore, and I also prefer to make the bellows 46 of small capacityso that the amount of fluid in the bellows 46 and the tubing 48 iscomparatively small as compared with the amount of fluid in the coil 47.By means of this construction the bellows will expand or contractsubstantially, in accordance with slight changes in temperature whichaffect ordinary sensitive thermometers.

The bellows 46 is mounted in a frame 50 by means of a threaded stud andnuts 51 and 52, by means of which it may be adjusted to be effective atany temperature desired. The upper end of the bellows carries aconically ended stud or bearing member 53 which bears against anL-shaped member 54 connected to one side of the upper end of theoperating arm 45, to the other side of which is connected an L-shapedmember 55 against which bears the conical end of a spring seat 56 onwhich is seated a spring 57, the other end of which is provided with anadjustable seat 58 made adjustable by a threaded stud and nuts 59 and60. This is for securing the proper thrust against the bellows.

The operating arm 45 is supported on a blade spring which is securedthereto by rivets passing through the L-shaped members 54 and 55 and theoperating arm 45, as shown. This blade spring 65 preferably passesthrough a slit in the frame 50 and is secured to the frame by a rivetpassing through L-shaped members 66 and 67 which are riveted to theframe, as shown. The upper end of the operating arm or rod 45 issuitably spaced from the L-shaped members 66 and 67 so that the bladespring 65 may act as a pivotal connection between the operating arm orrod 45 and the frame 50.

The upper end of the blade spring 65 extends into a saw cut in acylindrical member 68 to which it is connected by rivets, as shown. Theframe 50 is preferably spaced a short distance below the cylindricalmember 68 so that the blade spring constitutes the pivotal connectionbetween the frame 50 and the cylindrical member 68 and eliminates alllost motion. The cylindrical member 68 is supported in the cap 2? of thesmaller cylinder 17 and may be clamped in position by a clamp 69 andscrew bolts '70. The clamp 69 carries a bar '71 on which are seated atension spring '72 and a compression spring 73 which operate-to hold theframe 50 in position against a cam 75, described below. By means of theconstruction described, the cylindrical member 63 may be adjustedangularly to move the valve into position between ports and then themember 68 is clamped in such position by means of the clamp 69 and thescrew bolts 70. These adjustments are made for the approximatetemperature at which the temperature regulator will function to controlthe desired temperature. Further and finer adjustments of the devicewill be made by means of the nuts 51 and 52 which will position thebellows to swing the rod 45 into a position to control the temperaturedesired.

Provision is made to slow up heating after the temperature has begun torise, and similarly slow up cooling as shown more particularly in Figs.5, 7, l2 and 13, the piston rod carries a camshaped member 7a whichoperates on a roller '75 carried by the frame member 50 so that as thepistons move upwardly, due to the expansion or the bellows 46, whichmoves the operating arm to the right to establish a communicationbetween the larger cylinder and the source oi fluid pressure J, the cam'75 will function to counteract the movement of the operating arm 45caused by the expansion of the bellows e" by moving the frame to theleft into neutral position, as shown in Figs. 6 and 13. Any rise in thetemperature causes the bellows to expand and move the operating arm 45to the right, as shown in Fig. 12, thus establishing communicationbetween the source of fluid pressure and the lower cylinder which causesthe pistons to rise and to move the vane H, Fig. 4, toward the positionshown by dotted lines so that a smaller volume of air will thereafterpass through the heating unit B.

By means of the construction shown and just described, the movement ofthe pistons when the temperature in the room has risen to apredetermined amount will be a slow movement corresponding to that of anordinary thermometer. As the pistons move upwardly they cause the vaneH, Fig. 4, to move toward the right so that a smaller volume of air willbe heated to prevent a rise of temperature in the room. If thetemperature still continues to rise the pistons will continue to moveupwardly and move the vane H farther from the full line position andfinally into the dotted line position, and when the vane H is in suchposition the larger piston 25 will have been moved up above the open endof the pipe N. This allows the air under pressure coming from the sourceof pressure J through the pipe L, and coming through the valve 23, whichis controlled by the bellows to establish communication between the pipeL and the larger cylinder 16, then coming through the larger cylinder,to pass through the pipe N into the space behind the larger piston 10 ofthe air motor 0. This causes the valve C to close and so shut off thesteam supply from the radiator B. In this position of the mechanism,when the source of steam is shut off from the radiator B, none of theair delivered by the fan D passes over the radiator B, so that if thefan sucks in air from the room the ensuing temperature of the room willdepend upon other radiation, and if the fan sucks in air from the intakeE the ensuing temperature of the room will depend upon the temperatureof the intake air delivered to the room.

If there is a fall in temperature, after the mechanism is in thecondition just stated, the bellows e6 wiil contract first to close thetriple valve and then to move the triple valve into the position shownin Fig. 11 to exhaust air from the larger cylinder 16. As the pistonsmove downwardly they move the vane H from the dotted line position shownin Fig. 4 to the left to cause some of the air from the fan D to passthrough the radiator B, and at the same time the larger piston 25 movesclear of the pipe N and vents the air behind the larger piston 10 of theair motor 0 through the pipe N to the atmosphere causing the valve 0 tobe opened to admit steam to the radiator. As the pistons movedownwardly, the frame 50 will be rocked by the springs '72 and 73 undercontrol of the cam 74 which tends to move the operating arm 45 to theright to close or partially close the triple valve. Later, when the roomis at proper temperature, the control over the operating arm 45 and thetriple valve by the cam '74 and the bellows 46 is such that the valvewill occupy the position shown in Figs. 10 and 12, in which air isadmitted behind the larger piston 25 causing the pistons to rise and tomove the vane toward the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 to cause asmaller amount of air to pass through the radiator coils in the radiatorunit B, Fig. 4:, to cut down the temperature of the air deliveredthrough the radiator grid I to prevent further rise in the temperatureof the room.

As indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, branch pipes may lead off fromthe pipes M and N to control the operation of an air motor 0' to controla steam valve C which controls the admission of steam to an additionalradiator E placed anywhere in the room in which the cabinet A is placed.It is obvious, of course, that the valves of other radiators may beoperated from the central control in the same manner.

While in Fig. 1 I have shown the source of compressed air J and thetemperature regulator control K located outside of the cabinet, it is tobe understood of course that all of these could be located within thecabinet A and related to each other in such a way as to saveconsiderable piping, which arrangement I have contemplated.

The fluid under pressure in the tank J may be air or any equivalentfluid, as is of course obvious. It is also to be understood that theheat supply to the cabinet may be other than steam heat, and that theunit B may readily be replaced by a heating coil or any suitable heatingdevice.

While the invention has been described specifically as to the details ofconstruction of the temperature regulator and as to one specific use, itis to be understood that the claims are not to be limited by the wordsof description employed except as such limitations are made necessary bythe prior art.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a pair of cylinders of unequal diameters, pistonsoperating therein, an operative connection between said pistons,temperature control means for controlling the admission and exhaust offluid into and out of the larger cylinder, a fluid pressure controlledheat supply control valve operating means, and a conduit pipe connectingthe forward end of said larger cylinder to said operating means, saidconnection with said cylinder being made at a point to normally ventsaid operating means and to communicate with said cylinder as saidpiston moves into its extreme forward position upon an increase oftemperature.

'2. In a thermostatic device an operating arm, a main frame, a shiftableframe, a bendable member supporting the shiftable frame on the mainframe, a spring device tending to turn the shiftable frame on itsbendable member, an adjustable support for the bendable member on themain frame, a thermostatic device in the shiftable frame, an arm againstwhich the thermostatic device bears to turn the arm, a bendable membercarried in the shiftable frame and supporting the arm, a spring in theshiftable frame holding the arm against the thermostatic device, andmeans for finely adjusting the thermostatic device in its frame.

3. In a heating and ventilating system the combination with a heatingelement across which ventilatingair is adapted to pass, of a device fordividing the ventilating air so that part of the air passes across theheating elementto be heated thereby and part passes clear of it, aconnection for operating the device, a thermostat, a swinging arm movedin union with the thermostat, a power driven device for driving theconnection, and a valve for controlling the power driven device andoperated by the swinging arm over a small part of its possible swing sothat the arm may have a wide idle swing.

4. In a thermostatic device the combination with a main support, of aswinging support, a bendable mounting on the main support for theswinging support, a thermally expanding member in the swinging support,a swinging arm driven by the expanding member, a bendable mounting forthe arm on which it swings on the swinging support, a spring bearingagainst the support and holding the arm against the member, apower-controlling valve operated by the arm, a travelling member adaptedto be driven by the power, a cam moving with the travelling member, afollower for the cam connected to the swinging support to swing itssupport and the member, and a spring urging the follower against thecam.

5. In a thermostatic device an operating arm, a shiftable frame, a mainframe, a bendable member uniting the arm to the shiftable frame so thatthe arm swings without lost motion, a bendable member uniting theshiftable frame to the main frame so that the shiftable frame swingswithout lost motion, a bellows device between the arm and the frame toswing the arm, and a spring in the shiftable frame adapted to hold thearm against the bellows device.

FREDERIC C. CHADBORN.

